Not a bad first Shota
5, Lewis-Potter 17
JET-HEELED Hull left new owner Acun Ilicali playing catch-up as Shota Arveladze enjoyed a flying start.
The Tigers strolled to a third straight win in head coach Arveladze’s first game in charge as Tom Eaves and Keane LewisPotter struck to pull resurgent City further away from the danger zone.
Hull are a club on the up after media mogul Ilicali’s £30million takeover, and the only downside of their latest three-point haul was the 52-year-old missing his side’s goals in a blistering opening 20 minutes.
Ilicali was late arriving back from his daughter’s birthday party in Turkey after his private jet was delayed – finally reaching the stadium at half-time.
After a third consecutive clean sheet, Arveladze said: “It was great to hear the fans sing my name and I’m really happy to get off to a good start. You couldn’t have written a better script and I want to repay the faith the owner’s shown in me.
“It’s been a whirlwind and I’m still learning about this division. I need a few more games to assess the strengths of the squad.”
The ex-Rangers striker got off to the ideal start 24 hours on from being unveiled as Grant McCann’s successor.
Returning wing-back Brandon Fleming sent over a low fifth-minute cross which Eaves poked home at the near post.
It got worse for the Swans as LewisPotter swept home the second at the far post in the 17th minute.
Boss Russell Martin admitted: “We didn’t show enough energy and intensity in the first-half and conceded two bad goals.
“Hull had two shots and scored from both – I’m sorry for the fans, we’ve let ourselves down.”
HULL CITY: Baxter 7, Bernard 7, McLoughlin 7, Greaves 7, Longman 7, Smallwood 7, Docherty 8, Fleming 8 (Slater 81), Honeyman 9 (Jones 90), Lewis-Potter 8, Eaves 8.
Subs not used: Ingram, Moncur, T Smith, Huddlestone, Arthur. SWANSEA CITY: Hamer 4, Cabango 4, Naughton 6, Manning 5, Christie 4, Fulton 4 (Obafemi 46, 5), Grimes 6, Latibeaudiere 5, K Smith 4 (Walsh 63, 6), Wolf 4 (Ntcham 46, 5), Piroe 5.
Subs not used: Fisher, Bennett, Joseph, Abdulai.
MAN OF THE MATCH: George Honeyman. Set up Hull’s second goal and was a constant threat going forward.
REFEREE: Leigh Doughty 6.